Protective case and filing unit



Dec. 1, 1953 M. E. LANDAU PROTECTIVE CASE AND FILING UNIT Filed Nov. l 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 72 70' 74- INVENTOR. /Vl/L E; 4A/04u Dec. l, 1953 M. E. LANDAU PROTECTIVE CASE AND FILING UNIT Filed Nav. i, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 1953 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE CASE AND FILING UNI'r MileszE. Landau, N eWYork, N. Y.

Application November 1, 19,49. Serial No. 124,857

(Cl. S-58,)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to insulated card files and while not limited thereto the same has particular reference to an insulated ling unit for housing ledger cards and signature cards for savings banks and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a filing unit consisting of an insulated outer case which encloses the filing unit and protects the contents thereof against fire, war damage, theft, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective outer case which is constructed and arranged to permit of ready access to the ling unit and which may be expeditiously closed and locked.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for raising and lowering the closure means of the protective outer case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card ling unit which affords increased filing or storage capacity while economizing in oor space and which by its arrangement permits of the simultaneous used thereof by more than one person without interference.

Another object of the invention is to provide within an insulated protective case a rotatable ling unit consisting of a drum adapted to rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and which is formed with longitudinally extending pockets or recessesv for receiving and holding conventional type card iile trays equipped with adjustable spring catches to retain the trays and the cards in position when the drum is rotated during use. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a protective case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken approximately on line 4 4 Aof Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse Lvertical sectional view taken approximately on line 6-6 of Fig. -5.

Fig. 7 is va fragmentary sectional View showing the closure members in closed relation 'within the intermediate partition.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approximately on line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the card trays.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line l-ld of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line II-H of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference. an insulated outer case ID is provided having an open top adapted to bev closed by a closure means i2 and which case consists of inner and outer steel shellsl i3 and I arranged with a filling of insulation concrete i5 therebetween so as to render the contents of the case resistant to damage by fire or other attack.

The opposite longitudinally extending side walls I6 and I1 andthe opposite end walls I@ and i9 of the outer case le are provided with inwardly directed wall portions at their upper ends which form a rectangular top rim 2@ pro viding oppositely disposed top openings 2| and 22 for gaining access to the compartments 23 and 24Y located on opposite sides of a transversely extending intermediate partition 25. The top rim 20 is formed with vertical inner edges 2'? terminating in inwardly directed Iianges 23 extending longitudinally of the opposite sides of the top openings 2| and 22 and at the opposite ends of the outer case, the tcp rim 2i) is formed with outwardly directed undercut edges 29 terminating in inwardly directed flanges 36 which are formed as continuations of the side flanges 2% rso as to provide a continuous ledge extending about the opposite side edges and across the end edges of the top rirn 2t. The said ledges are adapted to receive and support the closure means l2 which consist of oppositely disposed rectangular covers 32 and 33 adapted for movement to and from closing relation with the top openings 2l and 22.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, they covers 32 and 33 are moved by power means which when disconnected from the power source retains the covers in locked closed relation. For this purpose the closures are swingably con nected .by means of hinges 3d and 35 to a transversely extending central bar 35 located above the partition .25 and to which are aflixed depending :screw jacks 3i and 33 adjacent the opposite. ends thereof which threadedly engage in vertically disposed sleeves v39 and il!! having flanged opposite ends di and d2 arranged in upper and lower bearings A53 .and is for swivel turning movement of said sleeves for yraisin-g and lowering the bar for movement of the covers 32 and 33 to and from open and closed relation. The sleeves 39 and i0 are located in wells it and i? at the opposite ends of the partition 25 which is of hollow formation for receiving the covers 32 and 33 to dispose the same in an out-of-the-way position when the case is in open relation.

The sleeves 33 and 45 are rotated by means of a reversible electric motor 49 supported on the bottom wall of the inner steel shell I3 having a pinion 5i? mounted on the outer end of a shaft 5l driven through a reduction gearing 52 and which is in meshing engagement with a gear 53 secured on a transverse shaft 54 mounted in bearings 55 aixed to the bottom wall of the inner steel shell i3. The shaft 54 has miter gears 5t and 5l affixed to the opposite ends thereof which are in meshing engagement with miter gears 58 and 59 aiixed to the sleeves 39 and 40 respectively. The aforesaid arrangement is such that when the motor is energized to rotate in one direction, the sleeves 39 and iii will be rotated to project the screw jacks 3i and 38 upwardly so as to raise the bar 3E together with the covers 32 and 33 which will be moved from closed relation to an elevated position above the case with the covers depending in parallel relation from the bar 3S. rfhe motor may then be energized to rotate the sleeves 35 and 40 in the opposite direction whereby the screw jacks 3l' and 33 will be retracted to lowered position within the sleeves with the covers 32 and 33 descending into the space te between the opposite walls 5I and t2 of the partition 25. 32 and 33 from open relation to closed relation, the motor is energized to turn the sleeves 33 and s@ so as to project the screw jacks 31 and 38 to thereby raise the bar 35 together with the covers to a position above the case HJ. Vihen in this position the covers 32 and 33 are manually swung outwardly into inclined relation by grasping the hand grips @t and @t and pulling outwardly thereon so that when the motor is reversed to retract the screw jacks 3i and 38 downwardly witht.

bottom walls of the outer shell lli and the covers r 32 and 33 each consists of a metal shell having a filling of insulation concrete i5, the ends 6E thereof extending outwardly in angular relation so to engage beneath the undercut edges '29 when the covers are in closed relation.

The outer case l@ is adapted to constitute a protective housing for one or more ling units indicated generally by the reference character 61. As illustrated in the present embodiment, the case it is provided with two such iiling units 6'! arranged respectively in the compartments 23 and 2t. The ling units t? are each of general cylindrical formation and have a shaft 53 extending centrally therethrough with the protruding ends thereof mounted in bearings S9 and 'it afxed to the opposite side walls of the inner shell it to dispose the shaft te in horizontal relation for turning movement of the filing unit in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction with the upper portion of the units arranged adjacent to the top openings 2i and 22 in the compartments 23 and 2li respectively.

The units each include end walls 'il preferably fashioned of sheet material and secured therebetween are a plurality of radially arranged cir- In order to move the closures ,f

4 oumferentially spaced open-top receptacles i2 of rectangular shape in cross-section adapted to provide compartments for removably receiving standard filing trays i3. Arranged between the filing trays 'i3 are a plurality of radially arranged circumferentially spaced receptacles M which are of rectangular shape in cross-section and provide compartments or recesses for open-top card cases 15. The filing trays 73 are adapted to receive filing cards which extend laterally across the trays in side by side parallel relation throughout the length thereof which cards are secured in position therein by any desired means such as by an angulated bar 'i6 pivoted to the side wall of the ling tray with the top ilange l'i thereof projecting inwardly in overlying relation with the upper edges of the cards when arranged therein. The said bar is adapted to be manually moved outwardly against the tension of a spring 'iii to free the cards for removal therefrom. The tra-vs i3 are somewhat shorter in length than the length of the receptacle i2 whereby the trays may be grasped by the hand opening 'is for removing the tray from its receptacle. fn order to retain the trays in position in the receptacle when the unit is rotated, latch members ti are pivoted on the end walls of each of the receptacles which are adapted to automatically engage in keeper openings 8l in the end walls of the trays 'for latching the trays in the receptacles.

The open-top card cases i5 are similar to the filing trays i3 in construction and are provided with angulated bars 83 pivoted to the side walls thereof with the top flanges Sil of said bars projecting inwardly of the upper edges of the cases for securing cards therein similar to the construction and arrangement of the angulated bar 'it of the filing trays i3. The receptacles 'iii are also provided with latch members t pivoted to the end walls thereof which are adapted to engage in keeper openings 85 in the end walls of the card cases for securely latching the card cases in position in the receptacles similar to the latches St for retaining the lling trays i3 in position in the receptacles 'it `will he underl stood that the ling trays 'i3 and card. cases i5 may be released from the receptacles for removal therefrom by swinging the latch i: embers til and 85 out of latched engagement with the keeper openings 8l and @t respectively.

Arranged in this manner, the ling units if are accessible from each side of the case for gaining access to the cards tiled therein which are arranged transversely of the trays and card cases and in front of an individual standing at either side of the case. The iiling units are adapted to be rotated either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction so as to bring any one of the trays or card cases uppermost for gaining access thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A fireproof protective case for hoc rotary-type card flling units, said case being constructed with spaced inner and outer ci' sheet steel with an insuia` shells, a, rectangular opening in the case to afford access to the filing u its, versely extending central "oar locas said top opening, a pair of the ends of said central bar depending t erefrorn between the filing units, and actuating means to engage said first named means for moving said central bar and the attached covers upwardly from closed horizontal relation to open vertical relation and thence downwardly between the filing units toV an out-of-thewvay position Within the said case to aord unobstructed use of the filing units by two or more persons simultaneously while standing on opposite sides of the case and facing each other.

2. A card filing device intended for sirnultemem ous use by two or more persons positioned on opposite sides thereof and facing each other, comprising an insulated case having a top eineni ing, a pair of mechanically operated covers therefor, cylindrical units located Within said case and rotatably mounted on horizontally disposed axes, and open-top trays carried by said cylindrical units and rotatable therewith for disposing any tray uppermost, and said trays being of different sizes and alternately arranged and adapted to carry ledger and signature cards respectively 2o S with the faces thereof disposed toward the man vidual users of the units on the side of the most convenient to their respective stations to facilitate reference by tellers in banks.

MELES E. LANDAU.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 981,959 Weaver 7, lell 2,093,392 Miller et al June 4, 1935 2,343,280 Cory Mai'. l?, i944 2,424,144 Bruer. July i5, i947 2,447,253 Jonas i?, 194e 2,530,565 Clark et al. Nov. 21, '195C FOREIGN FATENTS Nur-aber Country Date 38,101 Sweden une S, i912 

